Act-Like-A-Photographer

Image by Jeremy Saladyga

Act-Like-A-Photographer
Created and Facilitated by Caron Levis

January 24 – February 28, 2016
Tuesdays 7 – 10 pm (6 sessions)
Cost $300 (members 10% discount)
The maximum number of students in this class is 12.
Registration by email or phone at 212–260–9927

There is much for a photographer to steal from the craft of acting.

Photographers, like actors, must create moments that capture life and captivate an audience. Both theatre and photographs transform spaces, re-focus attentions, and stir observes to thoughts, feelings, and action. Master acting teachers have discovered many tools for developing an artist’s ability to create point-of-view, relationship, atmosphere, emotional truth, and even ways to coax the muse. For, Act-Like-A-Photographer, acting techniques have been adapted to give the creative photographer new, immediate and practical approaches to their work. Shy, introverted folks need not be afraid—we won’t be putting anybody in the spotlight. All you need is your camera, pen, paper, and sense of play. Peek behind the curtain and find something to steal.

Participants will be introduced to basic principals and methods based on the works of Michael Chekhov, Stanislavski, and Lenard Petit. We will be clicking and writing as well as getting on our feet to move through different acting exercises designed to support the photographer in developing point-of-view, creating moods/atmospheres, exploring relationships choosing focus, and framing a moment. This course is for portrait, landscape, studio, journalistic, and all photographers. The first sessions will be focused on learning the techniques and the later sessions will focus on application to participants work. You may be given assignments and asked to bring cameras and work to sessions.

This course is part of the Act-Like-A-Writer series (Act-Like-A-CHILDren’s-Writer, Act-Like-A-Dancer, and more) created and facilitated by Caron Levis. Caron has taught Act-Like-A…workshops at The New School Creative Writing MFA program, Summer Literary Seminars Conference, Teachers & Writers Collaborative and has also taught Chekhov techniques at the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Academy, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, as well as incorporating it into her social emotional skill development work with children and adults.

Caron Levis is the author of several picture books for children including Ida, Always (Simon & Schuster) which the New York Times Book Review called, “an example of children’s books at their best.” Short stories have been listed in the Best American Non-required Reading, published in Fence Magazine, The New Guard Review, and in anthologies by Persea Books and W.W. Norton. Caron is an adjunct professor and the advisor for The New School’s Writing for Children/YA MFA program where she earned her degree. She has an MSW from Hunter College, and has trained at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Moscow Art Theatre, and with Lenard Petit at the Michael Chekhov Acting Studio. After many years as an arts educator, Caron now loves using acting and writing to teach social, emotional, and literacy skills to students of all ages through her author workshops. Having trained in acting and dabbled in playwriting, Caron enjoys turning theatre techniques into writing tools through her workshop Act-Like-A-Writer. Visit her at www.caronlevis.com

“Caron’s energy is exciting, dynamic, and infectious. This was my favorite session at the conference. Amazing, and fruitful. Mind opening.”
-Act-Like-A-Writer participant, Summer Literary Seminars participant

“The technique helped me navigate the physical world in a more intimate way…”
-Act-Like-A-Writer participant, the New School MFA program